French duo hidden since WWII
Chrysler’s tyres removed to foil Nazi confiscation – and it’s been sat like that ever since
Two truly remarkable finds have recently been offered for sale following their discovery in the cellar of a vineyard property about 20 miles from Nimes in the South of France. A 1930 Chrysler CD straight-eight roadster and a 1938 Lancia Ardennes (the French-built version of the Aprilia) were among a dozen cars found down in the ‘cave’, but these two haven’t moved since the Second World War. Indeed, the cars were hobbled to prevent them being taken away by occupying German forces.
Olivier Vergne is an expert assessor for Ivoire’s Hotel des Ventes in Nimes, which offered the cars for sale in late November. He reveals, ‘The Chrysler is a 22CV (3.9litre) eight-cylinder Cd-type convertible in Ultramarine Blue with bright red wheels, ordered from the Nîmoise Herisson et Pallier agency at the end of 1930.
‘It was exclusively reserved for outings and extremely well maintained, so the odometer displays only 10,398 miles. The paint has retained its original shine and the beige soft top is incredibly well-preserved. In order to protect this iconic car and prevent it from being confiscated by Axis forces during World War II, the collector removed its tyres.’
So he did with the Lancia, too, though apparently this car was used early in the war until it became apparent that it was at risk of confiscation in 1942.
‘The Lancia is original in all respects,’ says Olivier. ‘Very lively V4 engine, a clap-door arrangement with no central pillar for better accessibility, particularly opulent interior, and featherweight at only 880kg. Only 1620 were built between 1937 and 1939, and this one has spent most of its life under a tarpaulin. In fact this one saw not only its tyres disappear but also its cam cover, to dissuade anyone from confiscating it. Its Cibié headlights also carry the blue “blackout” varnish.’
Other cars arrived in the cellar in ensuing decades, notably a 1954 ripple-bonnet 2CV, two Citroën Ami breaks, a 1933 Ford V8 Tudor saloon and a 1933 Citroën Rosalie. All were offered in the same sale, with the headlining Chrysler achieving an impressive €106,852 (£89,800) and the Lancia making €24,570 (£20,650).